1/28/26 Woodward Talk

Huntington Woods looking to place bond for roads, parks on August ballot

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

HUNTINGTON WOODS — It’s looking like Huntington Woods voters will have a major decision on their hands during the August primary election.

At its Jan. 20 meeting, the City Commission reviewed a proposal to place a bond up for vote during the primary that will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 4.

The bond would be for $17 million, of which $13 million would be allocated for roads, water main and sewer work, $2 million for rear-yard sewer lining and repair, and $2 million for parks and recreation improvements.

“The reality (is) our infrastructure, it’s aging,” Huntington Woods Finance Director Amy Zurawski said during the meeting. “There’s a lot that needs to be done. It needs to be addressed now to avoid further deterioration, as well as additional costs … that we’ll incur by

See BOND on page 16A

Berkley to celebrate season with WinterFest’s return

There will be three ice sculptures on-site for photo opportunities this year: the Detroit Pistons and Red Wings logos and one of the Berkley marquee. File photo by Erin Sanchez

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

BERKLEY — Berkley’s annual event celebrating the winter season will be back next month.

Berkley’s WinterFest will be held from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7, outside the Berkley Community Center, 2400 Robina Ave.

The best part of the event for Parks and Recreation Superintendent Dan McMinn is be-

ing able to gather as a community in the winter months.

“Parks and Recreation is very prevalent in the spring and the summer months, but the opportunity to come out and be a part of our recreation activity in the winter months and just know that recreation is here year-round is very important to us,” he said. “I think it’s something that the community takes to very well. We’ve had very good crowds the past couple of years

See WINTERFEST on page 16A

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Ferndale eyes maintenance of dozens of roads in 2026

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

FERNDALE — Ferndale will be busy keeping its roads maintained this year.

The City Council, at its Jan. 12 meeting, approved a $70,990 contract for its pavement joint and crack sealing program.

The construction, to be done by Wolverine Sealcoating, will consist of work to extend pavement life, reduce water infiltration and delay more costly roadway rehabilitation.

Director of Public Works James Jameson said the construc-

tion, which would happen when the weather breaks and is most likely a summer project, is preventative maintenance to make sure the city gets 20 to 25 years out of its asphalt.

“Asphalt just cracks because of weather,” he said. “Cold weather, warm weather expansion, and it naturally cracks. And then we fill it with crack sealing so that way water doesn’t get into it, freeze into ice and then further break it up. Because of that, the pavement just naturally lasts longer because it’s not being degraded with ice water.”

According to city documents, more than 50 streets are tar-

Decision on future of short-term rentals in Pleasant Ridge still uncertain

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

PLEASANT RIDGE — The topic of short-term rentals in Pleasant Ridge came forth again at a recent City Commission meeting.

At the Jan. 13 meeting, the City Commission heard an update on how to proceed with short-term rentals from City Attorney Greg Need.

Previously, at the commission’s December meeting, the commission instructed city staff to look into banning short-term rentals.

According to a city document written by Need, he researched two ordinances from Dearborn Heights and Grosse Pointe Woods that recently prohibited short-term rentals.

In Dearborn Heights, the city prohibited short-term rentals and that “prohibition does not apply to bed and breakfasts, boarding houses, hotels, motels, and similar uses,” Need wrote. “A section dealing with enforcement establishes a rebuttable presumption that a property owner is engaging in a short term rental operation if it has advertised one

ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WALK FOR MLK

FERNDALE — Members of the Ferndale Public Schools community participated in an event to celebrate the work of Martin Luther King Jr. Ferndale Lower Elementary School held its Peace Walk Parade on Jan. 16. Students participated in the walk carrying homemade signs and banners that shared “messages of love, kindness, and unity for all,” a news release states. Families and community members also were in attendance to encourage and celebrate the work of the students.

FREE SWIM LESSON FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

BERKLEY — Students at Berkley High School are hosting a free inclusive swim lesson for children who have special needs to emphasize “confidence-building and essential water safety skills in a supportive environment.”

The lesson will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at Aqua-Tots Berkley, 2485 Coolidge Highway. The event is being put on by student members of Berkley High School’s DECA program, Mia Mracna and Ava Guerra.

Formerly named Distributive Education Clubs of America, DECA is an organization that “prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe,” according to its website.

“In Michigan, where lakes and waterways are a regular part of daily life, water safety is especially important. Children with special needs face a much higher risk of drowning, yet many families do not have access to swim instruction designed to meet their children’s individual needs,” a news release states. “The lesson is designed to be welcoming and accessible, allowing each child to participate at their own pace while learning important safety habits.”

To sign up, visit shorturl.at/OtDCC.

Ferndale to host Little Princess Dance

FERNDALE — The city of Ferndale will be hosting its Little Princess Dance at the beginning of next month.

The Little Princess Dance, formerly known as the daddy-daughter dance, will take place 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at Ferndale High School, 881 Pinecrest Drive.

The dance will have a live DJ, treats and food, on-site photos and a goodie bag with a carnation for every child. There also will be a visit from Glinda and Elphaba from “Wicked.”

Tickets cost $15 per person for Ferndale residents and $20 per person for nonresidents. Prices will increase by $5 on Jan. 31. Preregistration is required for this event by Feb. 6. For more information or to register, contact Ferndale Parks and Recreation at (248) 544-6767, email the department at recreation@ferndalemi.gov or visit ferndalemi.gov/ government/parks-and-recreation.

Huntington Woods to have dance

HUNTINGTON WOODS — Huntington Woods Parks and Recreation will be hosting a dance for children and parental figures next month. The department is hosting its Sweetheart Dance at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at the Gillham Recreation Center, 26363 Scotia Road. The dance is recommended for children in the fifth grade or below and must be accompanied by an adult, “whether it’s a parent, grandparent or someone special.” The event will have dancing, cookie decorating, crafts and light refreshments. The event costs $18 per person. Registration is required by Jan. 30. To register, visit hwrec.recdesk.com.

Day of service

LEFT: Members of the Clawson High School Orchestra play music while people arrive for a day of service on Martin Luther King Jr. Day Jan. 19. The cities and school districts of Clawson, Berkley and Royal Oak combined to organize the day. ABOVE: Amid cold winter weather, attendees of the day of service participate in a walk with signs honoring Martin Luther King Jr. TOP RIGHT: Volunteers go through donations that will be sent to local organizations including the Clawson Food Pantry, the Salvation Army, Cass Social Services, Judson Center and the Open Hands Food Pantry. BOTTOM RIGHT: Teal Dimitrie and her son, Summit, 6, of Huntington Woods, work on making blankets that will be given to homeless people. Volunteers also helped sort donations, made cards and helped with a community art project.

Photos by Patricia O’Blenes

HOMES

6A/JANUARY 28, 2026

WOODWARD TALK

Refresh your scene with green

HOUSE PLANTS CAN SPRUCE UP HOMES IN WINTER, BUT AVOID EXCESSIVE LIGHT, WATER

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — The winter months of the year often get gloomy with the lack of sun and greenery outside, which leads people to sprucing up the insides of their homes to make them lively.

One way homeowners do this is by purchasing house plants, but for those who are new to taking care of plants, they might be wondering what kinds are the best fit for inside their houses and how to take care of them.

Michigan State University Extension Consumer Horticulture Educator Melanie Fuhrmann said that most house plants can survive indoors through the winter season, but that it depends on if they’re being taken care of properly.

Fuhrmann said plants that need low light often are the best to have inside the home, such as snake plants, ZZ plants, pothos, philodendrons, peace lilies and spider plants.

“A lot of those are plants you also will see in an office, and that’s because they can tolerate some low light,” she said. “They can tolerate some kind of avoidance if you forget about them for a little while. They’ll be OK and they’ll survive.”

Telly’s Greenhouse & Garden Center owner George Papadelis also stated that pachira, hoya and monstera plants would be good house plants as well.

On how to water the plants, Papadelis said to water them when the top of the soil feels dry.

“Not when you think it’s dry, not when it looks dry, not when you’ve got to dig your finger into the soil,” he said. “And if you feel any moisture, you walk away. And I personally am not a big fan of moisture meters. … Some people will buy one and learn to live with it, and it works great, but most people put too much faith in them and then they kill plants by over watering.”

Fuhrmann suggested supplementing with some type of light for the plants, such as a full spectrum light to give them just a little extra light to live.

As for where to put the plants in the home, Fuhrmann said it depends on the layout, as she would be cautious about putting them in south-facing windows or light because they could get too warm or hot for these types of spruces, but they still can go anywhere.

Papadelis concurred, adding that low-light plants would be good on the north side of the house and away

from a window in any other part of the house.

“If you have brighter light, like up right in front of a south or a west window, maybe even an east window, then you could consider some other types of plants, including succulents and cacti, which should be watered even more sparingly,” he said. “Like, you got to wait till the soil is dry pretty much all the way down to the bottom of the pot.”

House plants also live best in homes with higher humidity, so both Papadelis and Fuhrmann cautioned to have some humidity in the house for these plants to survive.

“So many people have humidifiers in the winter, but our house plants are tropical plants, and so they can also go through stress if they have really low humidity,” Fuhrmann said. “If you don’t have a humidifier, you can put them into your bathroom like when you’re showering or something like that, and that will also help them with the dry air. It’s a good, easy, cheap fix.”

A major caution, Fuhrmann said, in the winter is putting them directly in a windowsill, because if plant leaves are against the window, they can freeze and get damaged from the cold draft from the window or glass pane being cold.

“If you have a plant stand in front of a window, it’s suggested to pull them out by a foot so that they’re not right against the cold glass and that draft,” she said. “But really, you can put them anywhere as long as they’re getting some form of light and they’re not next to a really cold draft.”

Since these plants are so low maintenance, both Papadelis and Fuhrmann stated that often the biggest mistake homeowners make is they’re doing too much in trying to take care of the plants — providing too much light or overwatering.

“These plants need to be watered when they need it, and as long as they figure out the ‘when they need it’ part, they’re very, very easy to keep alive,” Papadelis said.

“Because they’re not in an actively growing state, in the winter they tend to go a little dormant,” Fuhrmann said. “People tend to overwater them, and so you don’t need to water them very much. So, we actually tell people to decrease the amount they’re watering and really make sure you’re checking the soil to make sure it’s dried out completely before you’re watering them.”

Call Staff Writer Mike Koury at (586) 498-1077.

CRIME WATCH

BERKLEY — The Berkley Public Safety Department is investigating a report of uttering and publishing.

According to the report, a 49-year-old Bloomfield Hills man reported to police at 10:13 a.m. Jan. 12 an attempted uttering and publishing.

The man told police that he was notified by Vibe Credit Union that someone had tried to pass a bad check. He also noted that the same individual had successfully passed two other bad checks at separate branches outside Berkley on the same date.

The first check was for $3,450 and the second was for $3,850. Police said that the suspect is a 43-year-old Redford man.

Store catches fake identification

BERKLEY — An individual attempted to use a fake ID to purchase marijauna at 4:51 p.m. Jan. 19 at 3916 W. 11 Mile Road.

According to the police report, police went to Quality Roots and a manager presented officers with an ID. The manager said the ID showed a hologram under a special light when inspected, which allowed the individual to enter the store, but when attempting to verify the ID, the store found that the name attached to the ID when it was scanned did not match the name on the ID.

When confronted, the individual apologized and left the store without making a purchase.

— Mike Koury

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Multiple choice:

EDUCATION OPTIONS ABOUND FOR FAMILIES

BY MARY BETH ALMOND malmond@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — When it comes to educating your children, there are a multitude of options to consider before choosing the right fit.

The key, experts say, is finding a suitable learning environment for your child — whether it be at a traditional public, charter, private, home, virtual or other school.

Schools of Choice

According to a Bridge Michigan analysis of the state’s latest enrollment data, one in four Michigan K-12 students attend school at a charter or in a Schools of Choice district.

Michigan’s Schools of Choice provisions in Section 105 and 105c of the State School Aid Act allow local school districts to enroll nonresident students and count them in membership without having to obtain approval from the district of residence.

While a few dozen public school districts in the state — including Rochester Community Schools and Grosse Pointe — do not accept most students from other districts, the majority of Michigan’s 532 public school districts welcome choice.

See SCHOOLS on page 12A

The Troy School District, for example, offers a limited School of Choice program, allowing students from specific areas to enroll, with priority for siblings of current Schools of Choice students.

“Troy is really known for its strong academics, enrichment, athletics, and performing arts and has always been in the top three in the state for many things. Because of that reputation, that helps Troy immensely,” said Kendra Montante, director of communications and strategic initiatives for the Troy School District. “We also have a very diverse community, which is amazing, so that is a draw as well.”

Schools of Choice, Montante explained, helps maintain district enrollment while providing educational opportunities, with specific seat numbers announced annually.

“Over the years, School of Choice programs have changed based on things like enrollment needs, so for the last eight or nine years, we have not done a significant amount of Schools of Choice. We have done a little bit of it because our goal was to right size the district a little bit and determine where we were at with our student population and our schools. That’s not uncommon. Many districts do that.”

More recently, as many districts across the state face declining student enrollment, Montante said the Troy School District polled families and received feedback supporting further opening up its Schools of Choice program rather than potentially closing schools with lower student enrollment.

“For the 2026-27 school year, we opened it up a little bit more for grades kindergarten, first grade, sixth, seventh and eighth grade,” Montante said.

The Montessori method

A popular educational approach that differs from traditional public and private schools’ teacher-led, age-segregated, curriculum-focused option is the Montessori method.

Tanya Dallo, who owns Country Hills Montessori in Farmington Hills, said the Montessori method — established by Dr. Maria Montessori in the 1890s — is based on the philosophy that students learn best by self-directed activities and observing the world around them.

Country Hills Montessori, which serves children ages 14 months to 9 years in mixedage classes, offers a more individual approach to education, Dallo says, with different selfdirected experiences for every child.

“A Montessori education is designed to develop the full child, so it’s not just the academics, we focus on their social and emotional growth, too, to set them up to be lifelong learners,” she said.

To foster independence, children can choose the subjects they want to study, depending on their interests — things like art, music, foreign language, gardening, science, math, geography, and reading skills — and they are encouraged to reason, cooperate, negotiate and understand along the way.

Dallo, who has been providing Montessori education for 32 years, says the method works.

“I’ve seen kids graduate, go through med school to become doctors, we have lawyers, we have a student who is a sheriff,” she said. “It’s so rewarding and it’s wonderful to see.”

GATE programs an option for some

The Avondale School District launched its GATE, or Gifted And Talented Education program during the 2017-2018 school year, enrolling approximately 31 students in two multiage third and fourth grade classrooms at Woodland Elementary School.

At that time, Superintendent James Schwarz said the idea was that it would be a self-contained magnet program to service truly gifted students, being that there was not one in this area — a public school that services students to that end, in a program specific for that ability.

In 2019, the program more than doubled — with 74 students enrolled in four multiage classrooms: two second-and thirdgrade split classes, and two fourth-and fifthgrade split classes.

To meet the increasing demand for enrollment, the GATE program moved into a dedicated building, the Avondale Meadows Learning Center in Rochester Hills, with students in second through eighth grades eligible to be part of the program. Today, the school has grown to serve over 400 students.

Upon reaching eighth grade, Schwarz said GATE students then go to high school, where they can differentiate into a wide variety of honors choices, Advanced Placement, dual enrollment and early college. GATE students can complete their high school requirements in half the time, which allows them to take AP or dual enrollment courses.

The GATE program is open to students in second through eighth grades within the Avondale School District and those outside the district through Schools of Choice, as space allows. Applications for students within the district are typically due in the fall, and Schools of Choice applications are typically due in February.

Call Staff Writer Mary Beth Almond at (586) 498-1060.

from page 3A

geted for maintenance. This includes major roadways, such as Hilton and Nine Mile roads, to dozens of residential streets.

The city will coordinate with its civil engineering firm, Giffels Webster, to create a plan of what roads to tackle.

“We try to crack seal every roadway at least every six years,” Jameson said. “Basically, you take your roads, you split them up into thirds. Sometimes you have to move up the schedule on others, but, perfect world, you do … the first third of your roads year two, then you do the second third of your roads year four, and then year six, you’ve completed all of your roads with the final third. And then you start the process over again until the roads are repaved.”

In evaluating the state of Ferndale’s roads in 2026, Mayor Pro Tem Laura Mikulski stated she was pleased with where the city

was at with its maintenance.

Ferndale recently completed its 10-year, $43 million bond work that was approved in 2015, and the city is focused on keeping up with the maintenance of its roads.

“A town that gets snow and super cold temperatures, you want to make sure that you’re sealing cracks so you don’t get water intrusion and have all that asphalt that we paid for break up,” she said. “So. I expect more of that in the future so that we can extend the life of the roads as long as possible.”

As of right now, Mikulski said, the biggest road to keep an eye on that needs the most maintenance is Nine Mile.

“Our road bond covered our residential streets. Our major roads, I feel like we have some work to do,” she said. “Nine Mile in particular has some spots on it that appear to be deteriorating a little bit quickly. So, we’re looking at things like that as potentially a next step.”

Call Staff Writer Mike Koury at (586) 498-1077.

Rentals

either through publication, online, or by a hosting platform, within the past 60 days. The ordinance provides that an individual who rents property as a short term rental is guilty of a civil infraction punishable by a civil fine of $5,000 per day.”

For Grosse Pointe Woods, Need said, the city took a simpler approach with a definition of what short-term rentals are and then indicated that all rental properties must be occupied by the same tenant for a minimum of 30 days.

Need told the commission at the meeting that implementing a total ban of shortterm rentals could leave the city open to an exclusionary zoning challenge, and that there is both the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act and case law that states there are constraints on a community that seeks to prohibit a land use within its boundaries.

“Doesn’t mean that it’s always fatal, but it does allow for a challenge,” he said. “We thought that a reasonable approach would be to prohibit short-term rentals within the single-family residential zoning districts, but allow them in the multiple districts, in the commercial districts. By having some property where it might be allowed, that will allow withstanding the exclusionary zoning argument. Yet, as I understood a lot of the commission opinions last month, it was preservation of … the character of the single-family residential neighborhoods and the effect short-term rentals might have on that, that was driving at least a partial prohibition.”

Need stated in his letter to the com-

mission that he believed there were three options the city could pursue: maintain the status quo, which would allow short-term rentals in Pleasant Ridge; adopt a zoning ordinance that establishes which zoning districts allow short-term rentals with certain conditions, along with a licensing ordinance to regulate the operational aspects; or adopt a zoning ordinance amendment that prohibits all short-term rentals, with Need suggesting an approach similar to what Dearborn Heights took.

Mayor Bret Scott told the Woodward Talk that work on what the city will do next is ongoing, but that City Manager James Breuckman is investigating different districts that Pleasant Ridge could place rentals and any conditions that might impact how they adjust their ordinances.

“We’ll put together a proposal that will go to our Planning Commission, and that proposal will likely include some districting of short-term rentals,” Scott said.

“A great priority for the city is to make sure that short-term rentals do not have an impact to the neighborhoods in general,” he continued. “We don’t have a lot of businesses in Pleasant Ridge, and we’re fortunate that the businesses we have do a great job of integrating themselves into the community. They serve the people that live here and are seen as a value to the community. We want to make sure that short-term rental businesses fit that mold, and so are looking to address that in our ordinances. That may include deciding where they can be and then what to do with the existing short-term rentals that are already in place.”

Call Staff Writer Mike Koury at (586) 498-1077.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

15A/ WOODWARD TALK • JANUARY 28, 2026

JAN. 31

Arts and crafts supply swap: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for public, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for participants who drop off supplies in advance and receive ticket, Berkley Public Library, 3155 Coolidge Highway, (248) 658-3440, berkleymi.gov/library

FEB. 4

Movie Prop Talk with Fred: Fred Gannod shares his experiences on sets of “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Avengers” and how some props were made, 6:30 p.m., Berkley Public Library, 3155 Coolidge Highway, registration required, (248) 658-3440, berkleymi.gov/ libraryevents

FEB. 7

The Great Backyard Bird Count: Led by Oakland County Parks naturalist and Berkley native Benjamin Prouse, 1 p.m., Berkley Public Library, 3155 Coolidge Highway, registration required, (248) 658-3440, berkleymi.gov/libraryevents

FEB. 8

DUDE concert: Hear power pop/rock solo project of The Muggs bassist Tony Muggs, 2-3 p.m., Ferndale Area District Library, 222 E. Nine Mile Road, free allages Songwriter Series continues on second Sunday of each month, (248) 546-2504, fadl.org

FEB. 12

Death on the Dance Floor: 1980’s-themed murdermystery party, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Ferndale Area District Library, 222 E. Nine Mile Road, registration required, (248) 546-2504, fadl.org/mystery

FEB. 18

Meet a Dentist: Learn about taking care of teeth and receive goodie bag, led by Great Lakes Pediatric Dentistry, 10:30 a.m., Berkley Public Library, 3155 Coolidge Highway, registration required, (248) 658-

3440, berkleymi.gov/libraryevents

FEB. 22

Community Seed Swap & Spring Gardening Expo: Presented by Ferndale Garden Club, drop in between 1-3 p.m., Ferndale Area District Library, 222 E. Nine Mile Road, (248) 546-2504, fadl.org/garden

FEB. 24

Bulgaria and Balkan Wanderings: Learn interesting facts about small European country, presentation by Mariya Fogarasi, 6:30 p.m., Berkley Public Library, 3155 Coolidge Highway, registration required, (248) 658-3440, berkleymi.gov/libraryevents

ONGOING

‘Somewhere’: Play set in 1959 about Latino family dreaming of theatrical fame while overcoming personal hardships, 7 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays Feb. 6-22, Ringwald Theatre at Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center, 290 W. Nine Mile Road in Ferndale, (248) 545-5545, theringwald@gmail.com, theringwald.com

‘Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express’: Show about passenger who dies on train after it’s stopped by snowdrift and search for killer on board, performed by Stagecrafters Main Stage, 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays Feb. 13-March 1, The Baldwin Theatre, 415 S. Lafayette in Royal Oak, season continues on select dates with “Daddy Long Legs” March 20-29, “Fiddler on the Roof” April 10-26 and “Newsies” May 29-June 14, (248) 541-6430, stagecrafters.org, read story at candgnews.com

Art exhibits: “The Best of the Best 26” showcases award-winning artists from juried shows in 2025, on display from noon-5 p.m. Jan. 28-29 and noon-9 p.m. Jan. 30, Lawrence Street Gallery, 22620 Woodward

To view more Community Calendar and to submit your own event, use the QR code or visit candgnews.com/calendar. To advertise an event, call (586) 498-8000.

Ave. (Suite A) in Ferndale, lawrencestreetgallery.com

• “Dreams of Equilibrium” features abstract acrylic paintings by Justin Bean, on display until Feb. 22, Ferndale Area District Library, 222 E. Nine Mile Road, (248) 546-2504, fadl.org/art

• “Painted Perspectives”features new works by Birmingham Society of Women Painters, on display 1-5 p.m. Sundays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays until Feb. 27, Woods Gallery at Huntington Woods Public Library, 26415 Scotia Road, woodsgallery@hwoodslib.org, (248) 543-9720, woodsgallery.org

Encore Chorus rehearsals: Tenor and bass singers of all gender identities can practice with LGBTQIA+ affirming vocal group, 7-9:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Zion Lutheran Church, 143 Albany St. in Ferndale, encorechorus.org

Ferndale Community Concert Band rehearsals: New and returning members meet from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays, band room at Ferndale Middle School, 881 Pinecrest Drive, performances scheduled for March 29 and May 3, FCCB seeking clarinet, oboe, bassoon and percussion players, (313) 549-9244, info@ fcconcertband.org, fcconcertband.org

Ferndale Senior Group: Meets 11 a.m. every second and fourth Wednesdays of month, Hazel Park Community Center, 620 W. Woodward Heights, (248) 544-6767 (ext. 503), jeannie1111@comcast.net

Monthly book clubs: Find meetups for kids, science fiction, graphic novels and more, virtual and in person, Ferndale Area District Library, 222 E. Nine Mile Road, also groups which meet off site, see full list at fadl.org/upcoming-events, (248) 546-2504

• Find meetups for teens and adults, Berkley Public

Library, 3155 Coolidge Highway, berkleymi.gov/ libraryevents

Birmingham-Ferndale Stamp Club: Meets 6 p.m. every first and third Tuesdays of month (fellowship at 5:30 p.m.), Birmingham Next, 2121 Midvale St., birminghamstamp.club

Ice skating: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays, 3-9 p.m. Mondays, noon-9 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, noon-11 p.m. Fridays and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturdays until Feb. 17, The Rink at Royal Oak in Centennial Commons, 221 E. Third St., therinkatroyaloak.com/overview

Winter Yoga at the Zoo: Held indoor at different areas on select Monday mornings and evenings February-April, 60-minute classes for all abilities led by certified instructors, Detroit Zoo, 8450 W. 10 Mile Road in Royal Oak, ticketed events include free parking and admission, sign up at detroitzoo.org

Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less: Virtual 15-week program presented by AgeWays Nonprofit Senior Services and led by registered dietitian nutritionist, free for first-time participants ages 60 and older, register at (833) 262-2200 or wellnessprograms@ageways. org, tinyurl.com/agewaysworkshops

Health workshops: Hosted by Corewell Health, free and virtual, corewellhealth.org/classes-events/ southeast-michigan

Lupus support groups: 10 a.m. every second Tuesday of month and 7 p.m. every last Wednesday of month, Zoom, (248) 901-7299, milupus.org/support-groups

ADHD meetings: Hosted by CHADD of Eastern Oakland County, for adults and parents, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Zoom, see schedule on chadd.net/chapterevents/527

Bond

from page 1A

moving anything out in the future.”

The bond would be over the course of 20 years. Huntington Woods estimates that the average annual cost for taxpayers would be $429, or $35.75 a month.

According to the city documents, about 25%, or 6.2 miles, of Huntington Woods’ roads are in need of full reconstruction, but the bond work would not cover the costs of all construction needed.

Mayor Pro Tem Jules Olsman told the Woodward Talk that there’s no option in regard to the road repair work that’s needed

“This is just part of the road restoration and road improvement project that’s been going on for years. It’s very expensive, but there’s no way around it,” he said. “The residents want good quality, safe roads, and it’s part of our obligation to make sure that the roads are kept in as good a condition as we could possibly keep them.

The city estimated that $3 million is needed for costs that would cover renovations in the parks and recreation master plan.

Areas of focus for the funding include repairing the city pool, construction at Val

WinterFest

from page 1A

and we’re looking forward to another great event this year.”

The free event will feature a variety of activities including bounce houses, fire pits, s’mores, a cake walk, lawn games, ice sculptures, a petting farm and an area that will serve mini doughnuts and hot beverages.

McMinn said they try to change things a bit each year to keep the event fresh, but they also never want to change WinterFest too much.

“We know what people like and we try to keep them coming back for those specific things,” he said. “One of those things that people really tend to like is the unicorn rides that we do as part of the petting farm. So, those will be back again this year as well.”

During WinterFest, there will be three ice sculptures available for photo opportunities. The sculptures will be made by Clear

by Mike Koury

If a proposed bond is placed on the August primary ballot, Huntington Woods hopes to use the funding to fix up some of its parks, such as new play equipment at Reynolds Park.

Jones Skate Park, updating play equipment and including accessible surfacing at Reynolds Park, permanent restrooms at key parks, and updating amenities throughout the parks with new benches, picnic tables and park signage.

“For a small city, I think we do a pretty good job with (the city’s parks), but we can do better and we will, but in order to do that, we need financing,” he said.

Zurawski stated that, historically, the city has used bonds and bond millages in or-

Cut Ice Sculptures in Commerce Township.

Two will be logos for the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons, and one will be the Berkley marquee.

“We try to do something Berkleythemed every year so people can take pictures by it,” McMinn said. “And we thought the marquee would be something fun to do this year.”

Clint Rich, owner of Clear Cut Ice Sculptures, said it takes about three hours to create a sculpture.

Ice sculpture can either be hand carved or made through a machine. Rich said these will be made with the help of a machine.

“There’s usually a couple chainsaw cuts in there to kind of layer it, and then we sand it and detail it. So, we finish it by hand,” he said. “The part that I like about it is … just seeing people’s faces light up when they see the sculpture and they’re just amazed that you can create something like that out of ice.”

Call Staff Writer Mike Koury at (586) 498-1077.

der to fund major construction projects. But now, Zurawski said, unforeseen cost increases over the past three to five years because of inflation, rising construction costs and tariffs have presented additional costs that the city either has to absorb or else delay portions of projects.

“Without new funding, essential improvements will stall and every year of delays results in approximately 4% inflation costs for anything that we’re delaying to the future,” she said. “If we don’t start and do something now, these costs are just going

to continually increase as we go along. And acting now is the best solution just so that we can get ahead of things so that we can make sure that we’re avoiding these escalating costs.”

The bond has not officially been approved for the August ballot, but it’s expected to come back by the March meeting for a vote. The meeting is scheduled to take place at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, at City Hall, 26815 Scotia Road.

Call Staff Writer Mike Koury at (586) 498-1077.

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At Source Credit Builders of America, Kandis Hall-El takes immense pride in serving the community with top-tier credit repair and credit-building services. Kandis, a credit restoration specialist, helps individuals to build their personal credit profile.

The S.C.B.O.A. service also creates a fast and reliable method to boost your credit score in as little as one month.

“We are passionate about making a positive financial impact and our team of dedicated professionals is committed to delivering outstanding service with integrity and care.”, Kandis explained.

“Whether you’re looking to improve your credit score for a major purchase, rebuild after past setbacks, or simply better  understand your credit report, we are here to walk with you every step of the way.”

Kandis’s mission is to educate individuals on credit literacy so her client’s have a better understanding of how e ective credit actually works.

“To demonstrate our confidence in the transformative power of our services and our commitment to the local community we are excited to o er a complimentary consultation for all first-time clients” Kandis says.

“This is an excellent opportunity for you to discover how we can help you unlock your full financial potential—at no initial cost.”

Source Credit Builders of America’s team work tirelessly to assess your current credit report, find ways to improve your score and eliminate derogatory items in a timely manner.

“We look forward to showing you why Source Credit Builders of America is your partner in financial success. We look forward to serving you and making a meaningful di erence in your financial journey.

Visit Source Credit Builders of American at our local o ice or contact us today to schedule your free consultation. “Let’s work together to build a brighter financial future for you and your family,” Hall-El concluded.

Source Credit Builders of America is located at 3462 Greenfield Road (#106) just North of 12 Mile Road in Berkley, MI. 48072.

For general information about their credit building services, visit them online at www.sourcecreditbuilders.com and click the ‘learn more’ tab. If you’d like to set up a free, private credit consultation to discuss your credit strategy, call an expert today at 844-272-2344.